Bellows checked cylinder cock



March 14, 1933. M. R. FEELEY ET AL .n 1,901,740

BELLOWS CHECKED CYLINDER COCK 2 Sheets-sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1931 March 14, 1933- M. R. FEELEY Er An.

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Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STTES leerme PATE? OFFICE MATTHEW! R. FE LEY, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, AND CHARLES STER-N, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW' JERSEY, ASSIGNOPJS TO ABEC@ MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HOBOKEN, NEVI JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE BELLOFTS CHECKED CYLINDER COCK Application led June 23,

The present invention relates to certain improvements in safety cylinder cocks of the type adapted to provide for the automatic release and evacuation of the water trapped in the cylinder whereby to prevent the blowing out of the cylinder head. This water, which is non-compressible, is forced by the piston against the cylinder head, and when this water accumulates in quantity, the action is apt to blow out the cylinder head.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will be entirely automatic in action and arranged to release any excess pressure over full boiler pressure in the cylinders without requiring the attention of the engineer or the operation of any manual means.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the conservation of the medium, usually air, for retaining the valve yieldably in closed position. The air is utilized for many other purposes, and it is extremely necessary to avoid any undue loss or escape of the air pressure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cylinder cock which will automatically open when pressure in the cylinder becomes greater than the boiler pressure, due to high compression or water pocketed in the cylinder, and which will prevent the blowing out of the cylinder head, damaging of the cylinder, breaking cylinder packing, bending piston rods, and the like.

The improved cylinder cock is adapt-ed to remain closed when drifting, prevent air or foreign substances, such as gravel, cinders and the like. from the right of way being` sucked into the cylinders through the cylinder cocks, and is adapted to effect a considerable saving in cylinder oil.

The improved cylinder cock is also adapted to automatically open when the engine is placed in the round house or on a storage track and prevent any accumulation of pressure in the cylinder.

The particular feature of the present invention is to provide for the complete shutting o of the air supply to the interior of the eXpansible bellows or other like member when the valve is manually closed and when the 1931. Serial No. 546,404.

bellows becomes broken or otherwise admits f leakage therethrough. This feature of the invention embodies automatic means ,for eifecting this result which, when the cock is open, anc. adjusted for use, is retained in inoperative position.

lWith the foregoing, and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more paricularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like or corresponding parts throughont the several views.

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through a cylinder cock constructed according to the present invention and being in operative adjustment and shown in open position.

Figure 2 is alike view but with the valve of the cylinder cock closed und-er manually controlled pressure.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the cock adjusted in position to retain the same closed and showing the automatic means closed for shutting ofi the manually controlled fluid supply tothe cylinder, and

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the improved cylinder cock, the view being taken at right angles to the showing in the other figures.

Referring now to the drawings, the body portion of the cylinder cock is in the form of a casing or shell 17 of a generally cylindrical form and having a contracted hollow neck 18 at its upper end provided with eX- ternal pipe threads to screw into the bottom opening or port of a locomotive cylinder. The neck 18 may be provided within its upper end with a grating or screw 10 adapted to arrest the passage of cinders, or the like, into the locomotive cylinder;

At the base of the hollow neck 18 and interiorly of the casing 17 is a seat 19, preferably of spherical configuration, and which opens downwardly and may be conveniently and accurately ground for the tight fitting thereagainst of the spherical valve 20 having an enlarged supporting disc 21 on its lower end. The enlarged disc 21 is mounted to reciprocate in the cylinder 22 and the casson ing 1'7 above a cylindrical bellows ..3 which is loosely fitted in the lower portion of the cylinder 22. The bellows 23 is provided at its upper end with a closure plate 2l adapted to seat against the under side of the disc 21 for raising the latter when the bellows 23 expands.

The lower end of the bellows 23 is soldered, welded, or otherwise suitably secured to a combined anchoring and supporting ring 25 adapted to seat at its outer edOe portion against the lower end of the casing or shell 17 and which has a central opening of a diameter equal substantially to that of the in terior or" the bellows 23. The valve 2O is in the form of a substantially cylindrical stem which rises from the disc 21 and slides through an annular valve guide 26 formed in the casing or shell 17 and which comprises the top wall of the cylinder 22.

The space above the valve guide 2G is of larger diameter and width than the seat 19 against which the valve 20 is adapted to engage and into which the opening through he reduced neck 18 is adapted to discharge.

' rllhis enlarged chamber 27 comprises an exhaust receiving chamber and, at one side or" the casing 17 above the valve O'uide or wall 26, is provided with a relatively wide exhaust y ooenin 28 which discharges horizontally from one side of the shell 17 to direct the ei;- haust water and steam from the cylinder 10 outwardly in a horizontal direction rather than downwardly against the road bed.

The valve 20 is provided with a sliding fit through the valve guide or wall 26 for two purposes, first to cause the valve 20 to move in a true axial line and to seat accurately against the valve seat 19, and secondly to prevent the passage, as much as possible, of the water and steam downwardly from the chamber 27 into the upper part of the cylinder 22.

For the purpose'of freely venting the cylinder 22 so that any steam or water seeping through the valve guide 26 may readily escape, the shell 17 is provided in one or more sides with vertically disposed relatively narrow slots 29 which also serve to vent the cylinder 22 upon the expansion of the bellows 23, and to also admit of the free contraction of the bellows under conditions which will be hereinafter set forth. By providing a sealed bellows 23 it is apparent that no piston or piston packing is required in the cylin der 22, and also that no lower valve or valve seat may be required, and also that there will be a greater conservation of the air or other fluid which is used in the bellows 23 for the expansion of the saine.

The lower end of the cylinder 22 is closed by a bottom cap 30 which is .suitably and detachably secured to the lower end ol the shell 17 by cap bolts 31 or the like equipped with the usual lock washers and binding nuts, and which are adapted to secure the cap 30 upmelf/eo wardly against the bottoni of the shell 17 and against the base flange or ring 25 of the bellows 23. The bellows 23 is thus securely anchored between the lower end of the shell 17 and the cap 30 and the bellows is sealed against the bottoni of the cap 30 and also sealed against the lower end of the shell 17.

The cap 30 is provided at one side with a lateral port 32 which at its outer end is internally threaded for the reception of an air pressure branch pipe, and which extends inwardly toward the central portion of the cap 30 and opens upwardly show to a( vantage in Figures l, 2 and 3, and intercoinmuni- Cates with the interior ot' the bellows 23. The upwardly extending portion ct the port 32 is pro fided witl downwardly facing valve seat 11 against which is adapted to engage a vertically nioif'able valve 12 having an upstanding projection 13 which projects into the bellows for holding the valve open at times will latter appear. rlhe valve 12 is provided with a depending valve stem 14: which slidably disposed ni a screw block 15 mounted in the bottom wall of the lateral port 32 and which is capable of adjustment igor regulating the tension of a spring 16 disposed about the valve stem 1% with one end st the valve 12 and its other end against the inner portion ot' the screw block 15. Ils shown in Fig. 3, the spring 1G is adapted to seat the valve 12 against the valve seat 11 when the projection 13 is freed and to thus cut-oii` the inflow of air through the port 32 to the interior of the bellows 23.

Threaded through the central portion ot the cap 30, and extending upwardly into the bellows 23 is a cap stop screw which has an angularly faced lower end exposed below the cap 30 and by means of which the screw 33 may be turned. rlhe stop screw 33 has an enlarged and shouldered upper end extending co-aaially through the bellows 23 and the cylinder 2, and arranged to engage at its upper end the under side of the disc or plate 24 for limiting the downward movement thereof when the bellows contracts.

ln Figs. 1 and 2 the cap screw 33 is disclosed as retracted to its fullest extent and in normal position so that the bellows 23 ma freely collapse to open the valve 20, as shown in Fig. 1, while in Figure 3 the position or" the cap screw 33 is raised to hold the valve 20 in closed position, such as when there is a failure et the or other i'iuid pressure at the port 32, or upon breakage of the bellows 23 so :is to hold the cylinder coclr closed and inoperative in case ot' emergency.

The cap screw is provide( intermediate its ends with an upstanding 33a which is disposed at the upper end oi' the lower threaded portion ot the cap screw and which, when the cap screw 33 is lowered to its full is adapted to bear against the inner side of the cap 30 and to engage at its inarginal edge portion against the projection 13 of the` valve 12 so as to hold the latter de pressed and lin open position. Thus, the valve l2 cannot operate to close the supply'port 32 when the valve is adjusted for operation, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

llllhen however, the bellows lacks, or when for other reas-ons the valve 2O is closed, such as shown in Fig. 3, the flange 33 is raised from the cap 30 and releases the projection 18 so that the spring 16 seats the valve 12` against the seat l1 and closes off the air supply through the port 32 to the interior of the bellows 23. Thus, upon breakage of the bellows 3 air in the pipe line from the cap cannot escape through the inoperative cylinder cock and the air is preserved at normal for operating the other cylinder cocks which may be used.

y@ s best shown in Fig. el, the casing 17 is providedexteriorly with an angularly faced portion 34, which may be hexagonal, to receive a wrench or other tool to enable the entire assembly to be screwed into the bot-tom Jpening in the locomotive cylinder.

rllhe engineer may in the` usual manner manipulate his air control so as to supply compressed air to the port 32 and to the interior of the bellows 23. This is the normal operating condition of the device, as shown in Fig. 1. The compressed air, although not so great a pressure as obtained in the locomotive cylinder, nevertheless, in acting` st vhe larger area of the plate 24: and the eisc 21 of the differential piston construction at the hase of the valve 20, will keep the valve 20 in the upper position such as shown in 2.

As soon as water accumulates in dangerous quantities in the locomotive cylinder, the normal pressure in the locomotive cylinder will be exceeded, thus destroying the balance of t ie diterential valve structure and allowing the excessive cylinder pressure, acting on the upper face of the value 20, to force the latter downwardly. This opens the valve 2O and the water and steam will escape downwardly into the enlarged chamber 2; thence outwardly in a horizontally spread stream through the wide exhaust or outlet port 28. The pressure beneath. the piston valve or disc 2l will automatically close the valve 2O as soon as the pressure in the cylinder falls to normal.

Should any of the steam or water escape through the valve guide 26 about the cylindrical stem or body portion of the valve 20, the steam or water will be deflected outwardly from the cylinder 22 through the lateral slots 29, and the water and steam cannot enter the sealed bellows 23. lt will be understood that the valve 2O is for the most partl in the cle-sed position, and it is only opened momentarily to provide for the escape of water from the locomotive cylinder.

There will be but little wear upon the partsy andbut littleoccasion for seepage of steam or water into the cylinder 22 and about the bellows and other parts located therein.

During this normal operation of the cylinder cock, the flange 33a holds the valve 12 open so that the port 32 is in free intercommunication with the interior of the-bellows 23.

Should the engineer at any time wish to open the cylinder cock, he has but to vent the air supply; thusreleasing the pressure in the bellows 23 and the latter normally tends to contract into the` position shown in Fig. l, and it allows the valve 2() to fall by gravity and the pressure in the locomotive cylinder.

In case of breakage in the air line leading to port 32, thecylinder cock affected thereby` may be secured in the upper closed position by screwingup the cap stop screw 33. This may be easily accomplished by the applica.- tion of awrench or the like to the lower exposed end ofthe cap stop screw 33. The stop screw 33 will be run-up tightly against the bottom of the disc 24, thus holding theV valve 2O closed and admitting of the automatic closing of the valve l2 untiltthe destination is reached and an opportunity afforded for the` repair of the broken air pipe.

rl`hisy adjustment is also effected whenthe bellows 23 breaks so that the valve 12 is free to close and shut olf the air supply to the port 32 so that air cannot escape freely through the broken bellows.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications maybe made in the details of construction and design of the above specilically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

llllhat is claimed is:

1. An improv-ed cylinder cock, comprising a casing adapted for connection at one end to the bottom port of a locomotive cylinder, al valve mounted in said end of the casing for controlling the exhaust from the cylinder, a sealed expansible element mountedv in the casing and engaging the valve, means for supplying-pressure to the interior of the expansible element for normally seating the valve, positive mechanical means carried by the casing for maintaining the valve closed upon failure ofthe pressure, and checking means between the expansible elementv and said pressure supplying means and controlled by said positive mechanical means for with-V holding pressure from the expansible element.

2. An improved cylinder cock, comprising a casing having a reduced threadedneck for engagement-in the bottom port of a locomotive-cylinder and provided-with a downwardly facing seat at the base of said neck and an enlarged exhaust chamber beneath said seat and opening horizontally through the side of the casing, said casing being hollow at its lower end to provide a cylinder and with a top wall between the cylinder and said enlarged exhaust chamber, said casing having slots in its sides for venting the cylinder, a valve slidably fitted through said top wall in axial alignment with the seat and having an enlarged base disc freely movable in the cylinder, a bellows closed at its upper end located in the cylinder against the under side of sain disc and having a base ring at its lower end overlapping the lower end of l the casing, a cap plate secured against the lower end of the casing for closing the cylinder and engaging said base ring of the bellows for binding the ring between the casing and the cap plate to seal the bellows there against and anchor the bellows in the cylinder, said cap plate having at one side an air supply port leading to the interior of the bellows for supplying pressure thereto to expand the bellows and raise said valve to its seat and having a check valve seat therein facing away from the bellows. a spring pressed check valve in said port biased to said check valve seat and having a projection entering the bellows, and a cap stop screw threaded through said cap plate and extending upwardly into the bellows for limiting the contraction thereof and adapted to be adjusted for engagement against the upper end of the bellows to maintain the valve to its seat. said stop screw having an outstanding iiange at the inner side of the cap plate for engagement with said projection to hold the cheek valve open when the cap screw is retracted to free said first valve.

3. An improved cylinder cock, comprising a` casing having a hollow reduced neck for attachment to the bottom port of a locomotive cylinder and provided with a down- .wardly facing seat at the base of said neck and an enlarged laterally opening exhaust chamber beneath the seat, said casing also having a cylinder in its lower end having a top wall dividing the exhaust chamber from the cylinder. a bellows mounted in the lower end of the cylinder. a main valve slidably fitted through said top wall for engagement with said seat and having an enlarged base portion adapted to seat upon said bellows, a cap closing the lower end of the cylinder and securing the base. portion of the bellows therein and provided with an air supply port leading to the interior of the bellows, a check valve carried by the cap for closing the air supply port. and a control member for expanding the bellows and holding the main valve closed adjustably mounted on the cap for adjustment to release the bellows for operation and to unseat the check valve and open the air supply port to the interior of the bellows.

4. An improved cylinder cock, comprising a casing having a hollow reduced neck for attachment to the bottom port of a locomotive cylinder and provided with a downwardly facing seat at the base of said neck and an enlarged laterally opening exhaust chamber beneath the seat, said casing also having a cylinder in its lower end having a top wall dividing the exhaust chamber from the cylinder, a bellows mounted in the lower end of the cylinder, a valve slidably itted through said top wall for engagement with said seat and having an enlarged base portion adapted to seat upon said bellows, a cap closing the lower end of the cylinder and securing the base portion of the bellows therein and provided with an air supply port leading to the interior of the bellows, and a manually operable control means having a stem threaded through the bottom cap and having a bellows engaging part and a valve part for said air supply port7 said control means adapted for adjustment in one position on the cap for closing said air supply port and holding the bellows expanded and for adjustment in another position to open said air .supply port and release the bellows for Operation by air pressure.

In testimony whereof we ai'fix our signatures.

MATTHElV FEELEY. CHARLES STERN. 

